Bio

Hilmar (b.1966) first picked up the guitar
at the age of six but started studying formally at age eleven. In 1982
he started studying jazz at FIH school of music in Iceland and
graduated from there in 1987.
He the went to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music and got his
BM degree in 1991. While in Boston he performed extensively and took
private lessons with Mick Goodrick, Jerry Bergonzi and Hal Crook to
name a few.
After teaching and performing in Iceland for two years Hilmar went to
New York in 1993 where he performed with various musicians as well as
taking private lessons with Joe Lovano. Since returning to Iceland in
1994 Hilmar has performed and recorded in a wide variety of settings
and appeared on over 30 records including 4 as a leader or co-leader.
“Kjár” is an ongoing collaboration of his with
bassist Skuli Sverrisson (known for his work with Laurie Anderson and
for being one of the most in demand bass player in New York's downtown
scene).
Since 1999 Hilmar has been a member of Jim Black’s AlasNoAxis, a
critically acclaimed NY based quartet that records for Winter &
Winter and has toured extensively in the U.S and Europe.
Hilmar is also one the founders of Kitchen Motors, an Icelandic record
label, think tank and art organization.
Hilmar has performed and/or recorded with Tim Berne, Leo
Smith, Kevin Drumm, Herb Robertson, Trevor Dunn, Greg Bendian, Jim
Black, Chris Speed, Briggan Krauss, Jamie Saft, Cuong Vu, Rafael Toral,
Carlos Zingaro, Tom Rainey, Ben Perowski, Per Jörgensen, Eyvind
Kang, Terje Isungset, Arve Henriksen and Ståle Storlokken to name
a few.
He has performed in the U.S, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Ireland,
Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Portugal, Holland, Indonesia, Bulgaria,
Turkey, England as well as in the Nordic countries.
He has appeared at such jazzfestivals as Salfelden, Willesau, Mulhouse,
Holland festival, Cheltenham Jazz, Brey Jazzfestival, Molde
international jazzfestival, Bergen Nattjazz, Copenhagen Jazzfestival,
Jakarta jazzfestival, Sofia jazzfestival, Música Improvisada
Lisboa, Musicus Concetus Florence, Foroya jazzfestival and Reykjavik
Jazzfestival.